U.S. patent application number 16/905984 was filed with the patent office on 2021-01-14 for on-vehicle storage device.
The applicant listed for this patent is TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yu HISHIDA, Yasuhiro SAKAKIBARA, Kohei YOSHIDA.
Application Number | 20210009022 16/905984 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004940715 |
Filed Date | 2021-01-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210009022 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SAKAKIBARA; Yasuhiro ; et
al. |
January 14, 2021 |
ON-VEHICLE STORAGE DEVICE
Abstract
Provided is an on-vehicle storage device 1 that includes: a
storage box 2 including a box body 20 having a storage space 21 and
having an upward-facing opening 22, and a box peripheral portion 25
disposed at a peripheral edge of the opening 22; and a design panel
3 disposed on an upper side of the storage box 2 and having a
window portion 32 facing the opening 22, and a design window frame
portion 35 that is disposed at a peripheral edge of the window
portion 32 and that faces the box peripheral portion 25. The design
window frame portion 35 and the box peripheral portion 25 are
slidable relative to each other in a first direction intersecting
an up-down direction while engaging with each other. The storage
box 2 and the design panel 3 are combined with each other by
sliding in the first direction.
Inventors: |
SAKAKIBARA; Yasuhiro;
(Kiyosu-shi, JP) ; YOSHIDA; Kohei; (Kiyosu-shi,
JP) ; HISHIDA; Yu; (Kiyosu-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD. |
Kiyosu-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004940715 |
Appl. No.: |
16/905984 |
Filed: |
June 19, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 3/103 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60N 3/10 20060101
B60N003/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 11, 2019 |
JP |
2019-129492 |
Claims
1. An on-vehicle storage device comprising: a storage box including
a box body having a storage space and having an upward-facing
opening, and a box peripheral portion disposed at a peripheral edge
of the opening; and a design panel disposed on an upper side of the
storage box, the design panel configured to have a window portion
facing the opening, and a design window frame portion that is
disposed at a peripheral edge of the window portion and that faces
the box peripheral portion, wherein the design window frame portion
and the box peripheral portion are slidable relative to each other
in a first direction intersecting an up-down direction while
engaging with each other, and the storage box and the design panel
are combined with each other by sliding in the first direction.
2. The on-vehicle storage device according to claim 1, wherein at
least a part of the design window frame portion includes a design
wall that covers an upper surface of the box peripheral portion, an
engaging wall that covers a lower surface of the box peripheral
portion, and a connecting wall that extends in the up-down
direction and connects between the design wall and the engaging
wall.
3. The on-vehicle storage device according to claim 1, wherein the
design window frame portion engages with the box peripheral portion
while being elastically deformed.
4. The on-vehicle storage device according to claim 1, further
comprising a locking element configured to inhibit the storage box
and the design panel from moving relative to each other in a
direction opposite to a combining direction in the first direction.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an on-vehicle storage
device.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Various storage devices such as drink holders and small
article cases are mounted to vehicles. As this type of on-vehicle
storage device, a storage device that includes a storage box having
a storage space and a design panel disposed on the upper side of
the storage box is known.
[0003] For the on-vehicle storage device that includes the storage
box and the design panel, the design panel is disposed on the
storage box, and the storage box and the design panel are fixed to
each other by screws, thereby attaching the design panel to the
storage box, in general (for example, see JP2015-223968A)
[0004] JP2015-223968A discloses a cup holder which includes a
finisher member as a design panel and a cup holder body as a
storage box. JP2015-223968A indicates in paragraph [0021] that the
design panel and the storage box are fixed to each other from the
lower side by screws.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0005] The technique as disclosed in JP2015-223968A is advantageous
in that, when the design panel is disposed on the storage box, and
both the design panel and the storage box are fixed to each other
from the lower side by screws, the storage box and the design panel
are combined with each other with high quality design since the
screws are not exposed on the upper side of the on-vehicle storage
device, that is, on the design surface side. However, the worker
needs to screw the storage box and the design panel to each other
from the lower side in a state where the worker has difficulty in
seeing her/his hands. Therefore, the work becomes bothersome and
workability is low. Furthermore, in this manner, a lot of screws
need to be used for combining the storage box and the design panel
with each other, so that reduction of the number of components is
difficult. Thus, the technique disclosed in JP2015-223968A has a
problem that the production cost of the on-vehicle storage device
is difficult to reduce.
[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the
aforementioned circumstances, and an object of the present
invention is to provide an on-vehicle storage device which includes
a storage box and a design panel and allows the storage box and the
design panel to be easily combined with each other.
Solution to Problem
[0007] In order to solve the aforementioned problem, the on-vehicle
storage device of the present invention is directed to an
on-vehicle storage device that includes: a storage box including a
box body having a storage space and having an upward-facing
opening, and a box peripheral portion disposed at a peripheral edge
of the opening; and a design panel disposed on an upper side of the
storage box, the design panel configured to have a window portion
facing the opening, and a design window frame portion that is
disposed at a peripheral edge of the window portion and that faces
the box peripheral portion. The design window frame portion and the
box peripheral portion are slidable relative to each other in a
first direction intersecting an up-down direction while engaging
with each other. The storage box and the design panel are combined
with each other by sliding in the first direction.
[0008] The on-vehicle storage device of the present invention has a
storage box and a design panel and allows the storage box and the
design panel to be easily combined with each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an on-vehicle storage
device according to embodiment 1;
[0010] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the on-vehicle storage
device in a disassembled state according to embodiment 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a front side portion of a
storage box in the on-vehicle storage device according to
embodiment 1;
[0012] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a rear side portion of the
storage box in the on-vehicle storage device according to
embodiment 1;
[0013] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a rear side portion of a
storage box in an on-vehicle storage device according to a
modification;
[0014] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a rear side portion of a
design panel in an on-vehicle storage device according to a
modification; and
[0015] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a rear side portion of a
design panel in an on-vehicle storage device according to a
modification.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0016] An on-vehicle storage device of the present invention has a
storage space. The on-vehicle storage device of the present
invention allows various articles such as a drink container to be
stored in the storage space.
[0017] The on-vehicle storage device of the present invention
includes a storage box and a design panel disposed on the upper
side of the storage box. The design panel covers the storage box
from at least the upper side.
[0018] The storage box has a box body and a box peripheral portion.
The box body has the storage space and has an upward-facing
opening. Meanwhile, the design panel has a window portion that
faces the opening of the storage box. Therefore, the storage space
of the storage box connects to the outside of the on-vehicle
storage device of the present invention through the opening and the
window portion.
[0019] The box peripheral portion is disposed at the peripheral
edge of the opening of the storage box, and a design window frame
portion is disposed at the peripheral edge of the window portion of
the design panel. The design window frame portion faces the box
peripheral portion, and the design window frame portion and the box
peripheral portion are slidable relative to each other while
engaging with each other. The direction in which the design window
frame portion and the box peripheral portion slide is a direction
intersecting the direction in which the design window frame portion
and the box peripheral portion are stacked, that is, a direction
intersecting the up-down direction. In the description herein, this
sliding direction is referred to as a first direction.
[0020] In the on-vehicle storage device of the present invention,
the design window frame portion and the box peripheral portion
slide in the first direction while engaging with each other.
Therefore, in the on-vehicle storage device of the present
invention, the storage box having the box peripheral portion and
the design panel having the design window frame portion slide in
the first direction to combine the storage box and the design panel
with each other.
[0021] In the on-vehicle storage device of the present invention,
the storage box and the design panel slide while engaging with each
other to combine the storage box and the design panel with each
other. This combination does not require screws and the like, and
is very simple. Furthermore, since no screws are required, the
number of components is substantially reduced, thereby facilitating
management of the components. The on-vehicle storage device, of the
present invention, having such a structure facilitates combination
of the storage box and the design panel.
[0022] The on-vehicle storage device of the present invention will
be described below for each component.
[0023] In the on-vehicle storage device of the present invention,
the storage box has the box body and the box peripheral portion as
described above. The shape of the storage box is determined as
appropriate according to an article to be stored in the storage
space.
[0024] The box peripheral portion is preferably shaped so as to
slide while engaging with the design window frame portion of the
design panel. The box peripheral portion is disposed, for example,
at a part of the peripheral edge of the opening or at the entirety
of the peripheral edge. At least one of the box peripheral portion
and the design window frame portion is preferably disposed along
the direction in which the box peripheral portion and the design
window frame portion slide, that is, along the first direction,
over the entire length over which the box peripheral portion and
the design window frame portion slide, so as to allow the box
peripheral portion and the design window frame portion to slide
while stably engaging with each other.
[0025] The design panel is a member that covers the storage box
from the upper side, and allows the on-vehicle storage device of
the present invention to exhibit excellent quality design. The
design window frame portion of the design panel faces the box
peripheral portion, and is exposed on the upper side of the
on-vehicle storage device of the present invention. In
consideration of the design effect for the on-vehicle storage
device, the design window frame portion of the design panel
preferably covers the entirety of the upper surface of the box
peripheral portion.
[0026] The design window frame portion and the box peripheral
portion are shaped so as to slide relative to each other in the
first direction while engaging with each other. One of the design
window frame portion and the box peripheral portion having such
structures preferably has a slide groove that extends in the first
direction. When the other of the design window frame portion and
the box peripheral portion is inserted in the slide groove and
slides in the slide groove in the first direction, the design
window frame portion and the box peripheral portion slide relative
to each other in the first direction while engaging with each
other.
[0027] Hereinafter, the direction orthogonal to the first direction
is referred to as a second direction as appropriate.
[0028] As long as one of the design window frame portion and the
box peripheral portion has the slide groove that extends in the
first direction, the slide groove is disposed in either the design
window frame portion or the box peripheral portion. As long as the
slide groove extends in the first direction, the slide groove is
opened in any direction. From the viewpoint that the design window
frame portion covers the box peripheral portion, preferably, the
box peripheral portion is plate-shaped, and at least a part of the
plate-shaped box peripheral portion is inserted in the slide groove
formed in the design window frame portion. In this case,
preferably, the slide grooves are formed at both end portions, in
the second direction, of the design window frame portion, and
extend in the first direction and are opened toward the center.
[0029] Specifically, both the end portions, in the second
direction, of the design window frame portion are preferably each
shaped to have, at a part in the first direction, a design wall
that covers the upper surface of the box peripheral portion, an
engaging wall that covers the lower surface of the box peripheral
portion, and a connecting wall that extends in the up-down
direction, and connects between the design wall and the engaging
wall. A portion surrounded by the design wall, the engaging wall,
and the connecting wall is the slide groove described above. A
portion, of the box peripheral portion, which is covered by the
design wall, the engaging wall, and the connecting wall engages
with the design window frame portion in the slide groove, and
slides relative to the design window frame portion.
[0030] In order to stably maintain engagement between the box
peripheral portion and the design window frame portion, at least
one of the box peripheral portion and the design window frame
portion is preferably engaged with the other thereof while being
elastically deformed. Thus, the box peripheral portion and the
design window frame portion are brought into pressure contact with
each other while engaging with each other, and the frictional force
inhibits the box peripheral portion and the design window frame
portion from disengaging from each other.
[0031] Either the box peripheral portion or the design window frame
portion is elastically deformed, or both the box peripheral portion
and the design window frame portion are elastically deformed.
Furthermore, the elastically deformable portion of the box
peripheral portion and/or the design window frame portion is a part
or the entirety of the box peripheral portion and/or the design
window frame portion. From the viewpoint of workability for
combining the storage box and the design panel with each other, a
part of the design window frame portion is preferably elastically
deformed and the storage box is preferably rigid.
[0032] In a case where the design window frame portion that has the
design wall, the connecting wall, and the engaging wall described
above are elastically deformed, for example, the positions or the
states of the connecting wall and the engaging wall are changed
relative to the design wall in the direction in which the slide
groove opens. Alternatively, the position or the state of the
engaging wall is changed relative to the design wall and the
connecting wall in the direction in which the slide groove opens.
In either case, the design wall and the engaging wall hold the box
peripheral portion in the thickness direction due to elastic
restoring force, whereby the box peripheral portion and the design
window frame portion are inhibited from disengaging from each
other.
[0033] Furthermore, in order to more stably maintain engagement
between the box peripheral portion and the design window frame
portion, a locking element preferably inhibits the storage box and
the design panel from moving relative to each other in the
direction opposite to the combining direction in the first
direction. In the on-vehicle storage device of the present
invention in which the box peripheral portion and the design window
frame portion engage with each other, the engaged state is stably
maintained by the storage box and the design panel being inhibited
from moving relative to each other in the direction opposite to the
combining direction.
[0034] As such a locking element, an unlocking-prohibiting
structure such as a known claw fitting structure is used, or an
unlockable structure such as a heart cam mechanism is used. In
either case, one of the locking elements is disposed in the storage
box, and the other of the locking elements is disposed in the
design panel, and the storage box and the design panel are
preferably locked when sliding of the storage box and the design
panel relative to each other in the first direction has been
completed.
[0035] The on-vehicle storage device will be described below by
using a specific example.
Embodiment 1
[0036] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an on-vehicle storage
device according to embodiment 1. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates
the on-vehicle storage device in a disassembled state according to
embodiment 1. FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a front side portion
of a storage box in the on-vehicle storage device according to
embodiment 1. FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a rear side portion
of the storage box in the on-vehicle storage device according to
embodiment 1. Hereinafter, the up, down, left, right, front, and
rear represent the up, down, left, right, front, and rear indicated
in the drawings. The up-down direction corresponds to the vertical
direction, the front-rear direction corresponds to the vehicle
traveling direction, and the left-right direction corresponds to
the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the front-rear direction
is the first direction in the on-vehicle storage device of the
present invention, and the left-right direction is the second
direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, an on-vehicle storage device 1 of
embodiment 1 includes a storage box 2 and a design panel 3. The
storage box 2 and the design panel 3 are integrally combined with
each other, and the storage box 2 is disposed on the lower side and
the design panel 3 is disposed on the upper side. In the on-vehicle
storage device 1 of embodiment 1, the storage box 2 and the design
panel 3 are formed of an elastically deformable resin material.
Specifically, the storage box 2 and the design panel 3 are formed
of polycarbonate.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the storage box 2 has a box body 20 that
is almost box-shaped, and a box peripheral portion 25 integrated
with the upper end portion of the box body 20.
[0039] The box body 20 has an upward-facing opening. In the box
body 20, a storage space 21 is defined, and the storage space 21
connects to the outside of the box body 20 through an opening
22.
[0040] The box peripheral portion 25 surrounds the peripheral edge
of the opening 22 of the box body 20 over the entire periphery of
the opening 22. The box peripheral portion 25 has an almost
plate-frame-like shape as a whole. The box peripheral portion 25
extends in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction.
In other words, the box peripheral portion 25 extends in the
direction that is substantially orthogonal to the direction in
which the opening 22 faces.
[0041] In other words, the storage box 2 includes the box body 20
that is a box-like portion, and the box peripheral portion 25 that
is a bezel-like portion.
[0042] The design panel 3 has an almost plate-like shape and
includes a window portion 32, and a design window frame portion 35
disposed at the peripheral edge of the window portion 32. As shown
in FIG. 1, the window portion 32 faces the opening 22 of the
storage box 2 from the upper side, and the design window frame
portion 35 faces the box peripheral portion 25 of the storage box 2
from the upper side.
[0043] The window portion 32 penetrates through the design panel 3
in the up-down direction, that is, in the thickness direction. The
window portion 32 has an almost mortar-like shape in which the
dimension of the outer shape is gradually reduced from the upper
side toward the lower side. In the window portion 32, the dimension
of the outer shape of the lower end portion is slightly less than
the dimension of the outer shape of the opening 22. Therefore, the
design panel 3 covers the opening 22 of the storage box 2 from the
upper side.
[0044] The design window frame portion 35 surrounds the peripheral
edge of the window portion 32 of the design panel 3 over the entire
periphery of the window portion 32. A portion having an almost
L-shaped cross-section is disposed at each of the four corners of
the design window frame portion 35. The other portions of the
design window frame portion 35 are almost plate-shaped.
[0045] The portions at the four corners of the design window frame
portion 35 are each referred to as an elastically-deformable
portion 36, and the other portions are each referred to as a
general portion 37. Among the elastically-deformable portions 36,
the elastically-deformable portion 36 disposed on the rear left
side is referred to as a first elastically-deformable portion 36F,
the elastically-deformable portion 36 disposed on the rear right
side is referred as a second elastically deformable portion 36S,
the elastically-deformable portion 36 disposed on the front left
side is referred to as a third elastically-deformable portion 36T,
and the elastically-deformable portion 36 disposed on the front
right side is referred to as a fourth elastically-deformable
portion 36FO, as necessary.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, each of the
elastically-deformable portions 36 includes a design wall 36D, an
engaging wall 36E, and a connecting wall 36C.
[0047] The design wall 36D is flush with the general portion 37,
and smoothly connects with the general portion 37 so as to form an
almost plate-like shape. The almost plate-like portion formed by
the design wall 36D and the general portion 37 is disposed so as to
be substantially parallel to the box peripheral portion 25, and
covers the upper surface of the box peripheral portion 25.
Therefore, in other words, the design wall 36D and the general
portion 37 extend in the direction orthogonal to the up-down
direction, that is, extend in almost the front-rear direction and
almost the left-right direction.
[0048] The engaging wall 36E extends so as to be substantially
parallel to the design wall 36D, and is disposed below the design
wall 36D. A distance between the engaging wall 36E and the design
wall 36D is almost the same as the thickness of the box peripheral
portion 25.
[0049] The connecting wall 36C extends in almost the up-down
direction. Among the elastically-deformable portions 36 at the four
corners of the design window frame portion 35, the connecting wall
36C connects between the design wall 36D and the engaging wall 36E
at the left end portion in the first elastically-deformable portion
36F and the third elastically-deformable portion 36T disposed on
the left side, and the connecting wall 36C connects between the
design wall 36D and the engaging wall 36E at the right end portion
in the second elastically-deformable portion 36S and the fourth
elastically-deformable portion 36FO disposed on the right side.
Therefore, an almost L-shaped portion formed by the engaging wall
36E and the connecting wall 36C is integrated with the design wall
36D of each elastically-deformable portion 36.
[0050] Among the elastically-deformable portions 36, the first
elastically-deformable portion 36F and the third
elastically-deformable portion 36T disposed on the left side are
opened rightward, and the second elastically-deformable portion 36S
and the fourth elastically-deformable portion 36FO disposed on the
right side are opened leftward. In each of the
elastically-deformable portions 36, a slide groove 36G is
defined.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 2, the box peripheral portion 25 has a
plurality of projections 23 disposed at positions which face the
design wall 36D of each elastically-deformable portion 36. Each
projection 23 has a projection height of about 0.05 mm. As shown in
FIG. 4, each projection 23 has a semi-spherical shape, and the
projections 23 adjacent to each other are spaced from each
other.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 3, the box peripheral portion 25 has
fitting claws 24 that project forward. A not-illustrated fitting
hole into which each fitting claw 24 fits is disposed at the front
lower side portion of the design panel 3. The fitting claws 24 and
the fitting holes form a locking element of the on-vehicle storage
device 1 of embodiment 1.
[0053] In the on-vehicle storage device 1 of embodiment 1, when the
storage box 2 and the design panel 3 are combined with each other,
the design panel 3 is firstly disposed on the upper front side of
the storage box 2 as shown in FIG. 2, and the front left and right
end portions of the box peripheral portion 25 are disposed in the
slide groves 36G of the first elastically-deformable portion 36F
and the second elastically-deformable portion 36S.
[0054] The design panel 3 and the storage box 2 slide relative to
each other in the front-rear direction by moving the design panel 3
in the rearward direction. Thus, the box peripheral portion 25 is
inserted into the slide grooves 36G of the first
elastically-deformable portion 36F and the second
elastically-deformable portion 36S, the box peripheral portion 25
and the slide grooves 36G engage with each other, and the design
window frame portion 35 and the box peripheral portion 25 slide
relative to each other in the front-rear direction, that is, in the
first direction.
[0055] The box peripheral portion 25 has the plurality of
projections 23. Therefore, a space between the engaging wall 36E
and the design wall 36D is widened by the distance corresponding to
the height of the projection 23. Therefore, the first
elastically-deformable portion 36F and the second
elastically-deformable portion 36S are slightly elastically
deformed so as to open the slide grooves 36G, and the first
elastically-deformable portion 36F and the second
elastically-deformable portion 36S come into pressure contact with
the box peripheral portion 25.
[0056] When the design panel 3 is slid rearward as it is, the front
left and right end portions of the box peripheral portion 25 face
the third elastically-deformable portion 36T and the fourth
elastically-deformable portion 36FO. When the design panel 3 is
further slid, the box peripheral portion 25 is inserted into the
slide grooves 36G of the third elastically-deformable portion 36T
and the fourth elastically-deformable portion 36FO, and the box
peripheral portion 25 and the slide grooves 36G engage with each
other. Also in this case, a space between the engaging wall 36E and
the design wall 36D is widened by the distance corresponding to the
height of the projection 23, and the third elastically-deformable
portion 36T and the fourth elastically-deformable portion 36FO come
into pressure contact with the box peripheral portion 25.
[0057] When the design panel 3 is further slid, the fitting claws
24 are inserted into the not-illustrated fitting holes, and the
fitting claws 24 and the fitting holes fit to each other. Thus, in
the on-vehicle storage device 1 of embodiment 1, combination of the
storage box 2 and the design panel 3 is completed.
[0058] In the on-vehicle storage device 1 of embodiment 1, the
storage box 2 and the design panel 3 are combined with each other
merely by sliding relative to each other in the first direction.
Therefore, when the on-vehicle storage device 1 of embodiment 1 is
produced, the storage box 2 and the design panel 3 are easily
combined with each other.
[0059] The design window frame portion 35 of the design panel 3
includes the elastically-deformable portions 36 which are
elastically deformed when engaging with the box peripheral portion
25 of the storage box 2. The elastically-deformable portions 36
come into pressure contact with the box peripheral portion 25 due
to the elastic restoring force of the elastically-deformable
portions 36. Thus, the on-vehicle storage device 1 of embodiment 1
stably maintains engagement between the design window frame portion
35 and the box peripheral portion 25.
[0060] Furthermore, since the fitting claws 24 are inserted into
the not-illustrated fitting holes, and the fitting claws 24 and the
fitting holes fit to each other, the storage box 2 and the design
panel 3 are inhibited from moving relative to each other in the
direction opposite to the combining direction in the first
direction, to more stably maintain engagement between the design
window frame portion 35 and the box peripheral portion 25.
[0061] In the on-vehicle storage device 1 of embodiment 1, through
these conjunctions, in addition to the storage box 2 and the design
panel 3 being easily combined with each other, disengagement of the
storage box 2 and the design panel 3 from each other is also
inhibited.
[0062] In the on-vehicle storage device 1 of embodiment 1, the box
peripheral portion 25 has the projections 23. The projections 23
are disposed at positions that face the design wall 36D of each
elastically-deformable portion 36, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4.
The positions of the projections 23 are not limited to the
positions shown in FIG. 4. For example, the projections 23 are
allowed to be disposed at both positions that face the design wall
36D and positions that face the engaging wall 36E in each
elastically-deformable portion 36. Alternatively, the projections
23 are disposed only at positions that face the engaging wall 36E
in each elastically-deformable portion 36. In any case, the sum of
the height of the projection 23 and the thickness of the box
peripheral portion 25 is slightly greater than the distance between
the design wall 36D and the engaging wall 36E. For example, (the
sum of the height of the projection 23 and the thickness of the box
peripheral portion 25)-(the distance between the design wall 36D
and the engaging wall 36E) preferably ranges from 0.2 to 1.0 mm,
ranges from 0.3 to 0.8 mm, and ranges from 0.4 to 0.6 mm.
Modifications
[0063] Other than the above-described structures, for example, the
box peripheral portion 25 is allowed to have elasticity by forming
the box peripheral portion 25 of an elastic material such as rubber
or adhering a rubber sheet or the like to the box peripheral
portion 25. In this case, the box peripheral portion 25 and the
design window frame portion 35 come into pressure contact with each
other due to elastic restoring force, of the box peripheral port
ion 25, which is accumulated by the box peripheral portion 25 being
compressed in the thickness direction. In this case, the design
panel 3 is allowed to be a rigid member which is unlikely to be
elastically deformed. That is, in this case, the design window
frame portion 35 is elastically deformable or is not elastically
deformable.
[0064] Alternatively, the box peripheral portion 25 has ribs 27
instead of the projections 23. In this case, the ribs 27 preferably
extend along the first direction, as shown in FIG. 5.
[0065] Alternatively, instead of the projections 23, as shown in
FIG. 6, the elastically-deformable portion 36 has a portion at
which the distance between the design wall 36D and the engaging
wall 36E is short. The portion at which the distance between the
design wall 36D and the engaging wall 36E is short is referred to
as a short-distance portion 39.
[0066] When the box peripheral portion 25 and the design window
frame portion 35 engage with each other, the box peripheral portion
25 presses the design wall 36D and the engaging wall 36E so as to
increase the space therebetween at the short-distance portion 39,
thereby elastically deforming the elastically-deformable portion
36. Therefore, also in this case, the box peripheral portion 25 and
the design window frame portion 35 come into pressure contact with
each other due to elastic restoring force of the
elastically-deformable portion 36, to stably maintain engagement
between the box peripheral portion 25 and the design window frame
portion 35.
[0067] In this case, the short-distance portion 39 is preferably
disposed on the leading end side of the engaging wall 36E in the
elastically-deformable portion 36 in order to elastically deform
the elastically-deformable portion 36 with efficiency. The engaging
wall 36E has a free end on the leading end side, and an opening 38
is formed between the engaging wall 36E and the design wall 36D.
The portion is greatly deformed with a small force. Therefore, the
short-distance portion 39 is disposed suitably at this portion.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 7, a small-thickness portion is allowed to
be disposed at the connecting wall 36C or the engaging wall 36E.
The small-thickness portion of the connecting wall 36C or the
engaging wall 36E is referred to as an easily-deformable portion
33. When the easily-deformable portion 33 is disposed at the
connecting wall 36C or the engaging wall 36E, the
elastically-deformable portion 36 is elastically deformed with
efficiency. The easily-deformable portion 33 is preferably disposed
near the boundary between the engaging wall 36E and the connecting
wall 36C, as shown in FIG. 7.
[0069] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments
described above and shown in the drawings, and modification is made
as appropriate to implement the invention without departing from
the gist of the invention. Furthermore, components in the
embodiments and the like described above are allowed to be freely
extracted and combined to implement the invention.
* * * * *